I have a 30" Sony Trinitron we got back in '95. The TV's been fine up until today: when I change the channels, the MUTE function (screen displays when muting) pops in and out like crazy. Like somebody with a big infared transmitter is playing with my MUTE function on and off, and it's driving me nuts! Could this be something internal? Or (maybe I'm being paranoid) maybe somebody is trying to mess with my TV? Could listening (bugging) devices transmit IR signals? I always remember IR as a short length, short distance type deal. Any suggestions?

 

Your remote may be screwed. Does it happen if you use the controls on the front of the set?

 

That was my guess, your remote is probably all gummed up, and when you press the channel button, its hitting the mute too

 

nope. i took the batteries out of ALL of the remotes, and when i use the TV buttons to manually change channels and volume, it goes on and off with the stupid MUTE.

 

Maybe it's your wife thats playing with your TV cause you don't want to get her that epen!!

 

mingster,

maybe its time to invest in a HDTV

 

Sounds like an internal switching component on your sound board might be going out.

 

Get a powerful magnet, like the ones on the back of a Woofer and stroke the cathode ray tube several times. That will alighn the circuitry.
If that fails put the remote in the microwave for two mins on high.

Seriously my Phillips Widescreen had a similar problem on only one channel. It would skip madly between stereo and mono and mute in between. The problem was that the channel did not have good enough reception and the tv was skipping town to mono and then onto mute so you don't have to listen to the noise of static.

You could possibly have some interference.

 

Probably those same folks that were tapping your phone awhile back.